Caramoran is a 4th class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 25,618 people in 4,293 households.
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The municipality of Caramoran is located in the northern part of the island province of Catanduanes, more or less 87 kilometers from the capital town of Virac. If you are in Tabaco, Albay you can reach the place by taking a small passenger/cargo motorboat direct to Caramoran or if you like, the big motor vehicle like the M/V Eugenia and Starferry or the fast sea vessel like the M/V Calixta in going to San Andres (Calolbon). From Virac or San Andres, you may take a passenger jeepney or mini-bus in going to Caramoran.
Caramoran is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Pandan, on the east by the Municipality of Viga, Panganiban and Bagamanoc, on the south by the Municipality of San Andres and Virac, on the West by Maqueda Channel.
Caramoran is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.
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The municipality has the largest land area compared to the other municipalities of the Province. It has a total land area of 252.40 square kilometer. Or a total of 25.240 hectares which is 16.7% from the total land area of the Province.
The early Spanish missionaries that came to the Philippines landed in Napacahan, a sitio in Tubli and established a Parish, which lasted for many years. In that parish church St. John the Baptist had been venerated until this day as the Patron Saint in which every June 24 is the feast day.
Early Caramoran history had disclosed the fact that the town originated in Napacahan, but due to the relentless and repeated Muslim piracy in the 17th to the 18th century, the town was transferred to present site Caramoran poblacion where the Muslim pirates could not anchor because of barrier reefs.
Over a hundred years after Spanish Sovereignty was established in 1570, Caramoran was founded as a town in 1676 side by side with the Catholic Church.
In the early colonial era, Catanduanes was only composed of two towns, the first Viga which was founded in 1619 under the incumbency of Governor-General Manuel de Leon. Later in 1676 he established another town, which is now the municipality of Caramoran.
As to how the town got its name Caramoran, old people of the town of Caramoan in Camarines Sur theorized that since their town is only separated almost 2 kilometers by Maqueda Channel from Caramoran in Catanduanes, the place also abound in “cara”, the turtle’s precious shell made into combs, bowls, and décor articles. Hence, a place where turtle “cara” shells are found in abundance like in Caramoan. Another version is the fact that this place where “namo”, wild plants that grows on vine which gives edible roots are plentiful, Caramoran has also this plant growing in abundance. These two towns are both far from their provincial capital and as such the inhabitants are closely knit in many aspects.
While the Roman Catholic Church had existed without interruptions since its foundation, the municipal government lost only its existence when Caramoran was fused to the Municipality of Pandan in 1906, only to be resurrected upon the incessant demand of the people under the leadership of the late Don Camilo Rubio.
The late Ex-Congressman Francisco Perfecto fathered the bill in congress recreating Caramoran as an independent municipality. Then August 29, 1948 then President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 159 re-creating the municipality of Caramoran.[1] Cong. Perfecto filed a bill “Outlawing Storm” and this fact made Catanduanes known to the world because the beautiful island lays in the typhoon belt, perhaps without destructive storms this province, specially this municipality of Caramoran must have prospered and developed fast.
The modern Caramoran is a rhythm of the warm rays of the rising sun and the brunt of the Pacific waves. Mother nature has made the soil fertile for rice, coconuts, lasa and the ample supply of fish which are the main sources of livelihood of the town.
The white beach and sparkling sea water of Toytoy and Sabang, the water falls of Ab-haw, Awinis and Garagag are some of the valuable spots for the Hilacan River are the main source of water for irrigation. The beauty of these scenic spots is as beautiful as the Caramoranons who become together by love for one another.
Caramoran has a fair cclimate with two (2) seasons, the DRY Season which starts during the months of April to August, and the WET season that occurs during the month of September to March.
Gusty winds from the northeast occur during the months of January to March, then, from October to December. Typhoons occur in mid-year and in the later part of the year.
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